#RIPRajuSrivastav: Anupam Kher: No one ever felt offended by Raju’s jokes

After over a month-long battle at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), esteemed comedian Raju Srivastav breathed his last on Wednesday morning. He was 58. On August 10, he complained of chest pain and collapsed while working out at a gym in a Delhi hotel before he was admitted to the hospital. 

Raju Srivastav’s untimely death has saddened his co-workers in the film and television industry. Condolence messages have started pouring in. Anupam Kher took to his social media to remember the actor-comedian. The veteran actor remembered him as a ‘kind soul’, who ‘never uttered bad things about others. 

In the video, Anupam said, “I am deeply saddened by the death of Raju Srivastav. Everything seems to have stopped and silent grief is overwhelming me and my surroundings. He was not only a brilliant comic actor but also a great human being. He was a kind soul who never uttered any bad words about others. Whenever he used to say things he used to say good things about others. Whenever he used to meet, he used to hug. He used to make us laugh.” 

Remembering the time they spent together, Anupam said, “I met him quite a few times, had long discussions, engaged in banter and I have never seen him in a serious mood. Many comic actors are different in real life. But Raju Srivastav was pretty much the same person on stage, on screen, and in real life. He used to see good things in people and used to talk about people with a lot of blessings in the heart.” 

Anupam also extended his condolences to Raju Srivastav’s family. “He took Indian comedy on a global platform. I kept talking to his family and they were optimistic about his health. But god probably had something else in their mind. Maybe they needed someone to make them laugh in heaven,” said the actor in the video.  

The moment you see Raju’s face, you will laugh. He used to make fun of people but they never felt bad about it. He was not that actor who would make fun of by criticising a person. He used to mimic – even the big shots – but no one ever felt uncomfortable with his jokes. 

May his soul rest in peace. We lost a very good human being. May god give his family the strength to deal with the crisis.